Equipment to secure a sports field

It's the law that all sports facilities must comply with current safety standards. This is as true for a simple sports field as it is for a large sports complex. Fortunately, for local authorities and private individuals alike, there is a wide range of equipment available to make a sports field safe, at a fraction of the cost.

Video surveillance as backup

In recent years, the technological development of audiovisual equipment has been meteoric. In fact, the miniaturization of surveillance cameras and the increased quality of their video streams have made video surveillance an essential part of perimeter security.

Surveillance cameras have the advantage of being particularly versatile and useful at all levels. There are several different models, both mobile and fixed. Depending on the needs of the community, it is possible to install cameras dedicated to different tasks to secure the site. For example, one or more cameras can be installed to identify all the license plates of cars parked in the sports field parking lot. There are also cameras whose function is to identify different faces from a considerable distance.

What's more, contrary to what you might think, using a video surveillance system is pretty intuitive. It requires no specific training, and some specialists even point out that it's easier to manage a video surveillance system than to use a smartphone. Thanks to the Internet, it is also possible to view the video stream from surveillance cameras remotely, either on the screen of your phone or from a computer, provided you have prior access rights.

Legally, it is compulsory to register your video surveillance network with the prefecture, and to install a sign inside the sports field indicating that the area is under video surveillance. This last point is not a constraint, quite the contrary: the sign will also act as a deterrent to any malevolent persons planning to harm the sports field in any way.

What type of fence should I install?

For some years now, many private individuals, as well as local authorities, have opted to install a ball screen to delimit their sports fields. This particularly economical solution has the advantage of serving two distinct functions. The primary purpose of the ball barrier is to prevent balls from leaving the sports field, which is why it can be between 2 and 10 meters high, depending on the type of structure. But where the ball screen becomes even more interesting is in its secondary function, which can prevent any unwanted intrusions into the pitch.

The ideal fence would therefore be a mix between a classic bar fence with welded mesh at the base, and nets acting as a ball screen at the top. In this way, the security aspect of the fence could meet the utilitarian aspect of the ball screen. All that's left to do is choose a gate or wicket door to allow safe access to the sports field.

There are already several types of fencing available, but it's also possible to have a custom-made fence made, with or without handrail, customizing it with swing gates or sliding passages.

Finally, fencing can also be used within the sports field itself, to compartmentalize it into smaller areas as required. For example, a small fence could help delimit the area reserved for spectators, while protecting them from ball splashes.

What about sports federations and their regulations?

Local authorities must also take into account the internal regulations of the various French sports federations. Decree no. 87-893 of October 30, 1987 must be complied with, in order to ensure the safety of spectators by controlling the capacity of the sports field. To achieve this, the pitch must be completely enclosed, allowing no intrusion that could lead to overflow. Here again, the judicious installation of fencing to prevent trespassing can provide a lasting solution for the community.

At the same time, some sports federations such as the FFF (French Football Federation) require local authorities to equip their soccer pitches (from level 1 to 4) with tunnels. The purpose of these tunnels is to physically separate players from referees and spectators. In this case, it's important to choose the right equipment to install these tunnels. There are tunnels on the market with specially treated fireproof tarpaulins and a solid aluminum structure. For obvious safety reasons, these tunnels must comply with all current EU standards.

Each federation may have its own safety requirements for a sports field. That's why it's important to check with each federation before building a sports field in your community.